a. Presentation by Matt Brown, Manager of Public Information and Registration Units. Matt Brown gave a PowerPoint presentation regarding the services provided, accomplishments and goals of the Rent Board’s Public Information and Registration Units and answered questions from the Board.

Chair Stephens asked for a show of hands from the public waiting to speak at the Public Hearing if they wanted to speak now or after the Executive Director’s report on the FY 2009/10 budget process and annual registration fee. They voted for speaking before the Director’s report, Item 6.b.

7. Public Hearing on the Annual Registration Fee and the Fiscal Year 2009/2010 Budget. 8:00 PM

a. Public testimony on the annual registration fee and 2009/2010 Fiscal Year budget.

There were ten speakers. David Myers, Sam Sorokin, Jim Smith (BPOA), Nancy Friedberg (BPOA), Marjorie Fendel (BPOA), Robert Cabrera (BPOA), Charles Jarrett, Jean Wong, Eric Kawakami (BPOA) all opposed to a registration fee increase and Marcia Levenson speaking against passing any part of a fee increase through to tenants.

b. Comments and questions from Board members.

6.b. Report from Executive Director concerning FY 2009/10 budget process and annual registration fee. The Executive Director went over in detail budget graphs and charts handed out at the meeting and said that he hoped his report would address some of the comments made during public hearing. He answered questions from the Board and Commissioner Blake asked him to respond to four specific questions brought up by speakers at the public hearing.

8. Action Items From Board Members, Executive Director and Committees

a. Proposal to approve staff recommendation on the following requests for waiver of late registration penalties. (Executive Director)

(1) Update on Webmethods contract and time line. Executive Director informed the Board that the contract has been signed and the RTS review will begin the week of April 27th.

(2) Update on Berkeley Tenants Survey. Executive Director informed the Board that the survey went out to 1900 tenants in batches beginning on April 10th and that so far approximately 350 have been completed and returned.

(3) Rent Board staff ergonomic study. Executive Director informed the Board that an ergonomic review of staff workstations is scheduled for April 22nd.

(4) Copy of March 24, 2009 letter from Chair Stephens to City Council regarding Rental Housing Safety Program Fee Increase. (Executive Director.) Self-explanatory.

(5) East Bay Community Law Center’s announcement of Eviction Clinic move on May 4, 2009. (Executive Director) Self-explanatory.

(1) Budget and Personnel – To be scheduled before Special meeting on the fee.

(2) Outreach – To be scheduled off line.

(3) IRA/AGA and Habitability – To be scheduled off line.

(4) Eviction/Section 8/Foreclosure – To be scheduled off line.

(5) 4x4 City Council/RSB Housing Committee – Next meeting Wednesday, April 22nd at a new location - the Berkeley Main Library Community Meeting Room at 2090 Kittredge Street, 3rd. Floor.

(6) Safe & Sustainable Housing – Chair Townley said that at their meeting earlier today, they had a presentation by the Berkeley Tobacco Prevention Group (BTPG), where they discussed their plans for removing smoking from in and around multi-unit buildings in Berkeley. When this committee meets next month, they will try to come up with different ideas and proposals for the BTPG. In June they will meet with BTPG again to hash out ideas and perhaps go to the City Council with a united proposal.
Townley also said that the seismic retrofit issue has been pushed back by a number of months and that the committee will be updated at that time. Next meeting tentatively scheduled for May 21st prior to the regularly scheduled Board meeting.

(7) Future Special Meetings – Special Board meeting to set the registration fee scheduled for Monday, May 4, 2009, at this same location and time.